Under normal circumstances, just like before, even when it was mealtime, these shameless people wouldn't come back to eat. Instead, they'd have Xiaobai deliver the Spirit Cuisine to them.

Moreover, Yu Qiaoxi had set up a hut outside, so among the group, she was the least likely to return... In fact, she was the one who stayed out the most. Xiao Lin had no doubt that if it weren't for the Grade One Grand Spirit Gathering Array in the courtyard, Yu Qiaoxi would have moved to her hut permanently.

So Xiao Lin was puzzled about why Yu Qiaoxi had returned at this time.

"Oh, I've been researching an Array Formation recently and came back to get some materials," Yu Qiaoxi said as she walked straight to her room.

In the past, I might have believed you were genuinely researching an Array Formation, but now...

Just as Xiao Lin thought this, he heard Yu Qiaoxi's inner voice in his ear.

【A Magic Array is still an array, no problem with that】

Indeed, no problem with that...

Xiao Lin internally acknowledged.

"By the way, Senior Brother, why are you here?"

Yu Qiaoxi soon came out of her room and, passing by the stone table, her charming eyes fell on Xiao Lin with confusion, "Aren't you cultivating?"

"I encountered something and need to think it over," Xiao Lin shrugged.

"I see." Yu Qiaoxi nodded, not pressing further about what the issue was, but continued to stare at Xiao Lin.

【Hmm, it's rare to be alone with Senior Brother, isn't this a great opportunity for research?】

?

Hearing her thoughts, a question mark floated above Xiao Lin's head, and then he saw Yu Qiaoxi come directly to the stone table, leaning on it with both hands as she looked at him, "Senior Brother, this is a rare opportunity, let me study you!"

"Are you out of your mind?" Xiao Lin finally couldn't hold back.

"Senior Brother, it's wrong to insult a fellow disciple."

"And it's right to study a fellow disciple?"

"What are you afraid of? It's not like I'm going to dissect you."

"If you really dissected me, it wouldn't be research; it would be harming a fellow disciple!"

"Tsk, Senior Brother, will you let me study you or not?"

"What if I say no?"

"Then I would be very disappointed in you."

"?

Find the original at "pawread.com".

Xiao Lin looked at Yu Qiaoxi, who had a matter-of-fact expression, and thought to himself, why does it feel like I'm the unreasonable one?

"Fine, if you want to study, go ahead, but within my acceptable limits, or I won't cooperate with you."

In the end, Xiao Lin spoke up.

It's not that he spoiled Yu Qiaoxi, his Fifth Junior Sister, but he was also curious about why he had attracted the attention of the Sevenfold Tribulation Lightning... Although he didn't think Yu Qiaoxi could really find an answer, any clue would be great.

After all, who could blame him for having a riddle of a Master at home?

"That's more like it."

Yu Qiaoxi nodded in satisfaction, then sat across from Xiao Lin and began taking things out of her Storage Magic Treasure.

At first, Xiao Lin saw Yu Qiaoxi take out some bottles and jars and didn't pay much attention, thinking that this girl was making quite a ceremony out of it.

However, when he saw Yu Qiaoxi take out a magic treasure that looked very much like a microscope, he started to feel something was off.

"Um, Fifth Junior Sister, this magic treasure looks quite unique..." Xiao Lin blinked.

"Oh, this? I got the inspiration from an ancient book and made it myself," Yu Qiaoxi said as she put on gloves.

Each one, either learned from the homeland or found in ancient books, and the reasons are quite plausible...

Xiao Lin secretly complained, then saw Yu Qiaoxi take out a needle, "Come, Senior Brother, let me take some of your blood."

"I can do that myself, and it's not that complicated to take blood..."

"Are you doing the research, or am I?"

"You..."

"Then do as I say, hand over your arm."

...

...

Green Lotus Peak, waterfall.

Lu Xingqiu sat cross-legged on a rock beneath the waterfall.

If a cultivator were nearby, they would notice that at this moment, the surrounding spiritual energy was crazily converging towards Lu Xingqiu, which most likely indicated one thing—Lu Xingqiu was about to break through.

However, soon the flow of spiritual energy towards Lu Xingqiu slowed and eventually stopped completely.

Lu Xingqiu opened his eyes at this moment.

"Phew, after three attempts without any issues, I should have a ninety percent chance of breaking into the Core Formation Realm," Lu Xingqiu carefully sensed and murmured to himself, "However, since Senior Brother previously advised me to take this breakthrough seriously, there might be some challenges during the process, so it feels a bit unsafe just like this... I need to ask Uncle-Master He for some pills later."

Having "gleaned hidden information" from Xiao Lin's previous reminder, Lu Xingqiu hadn't thought of asking for help, like having someone protect him during the breakthrough. After all, in his view, since Senior Brother didn't mention it, it meant that this challenge was best faced alone.

Perhaps the difficulties I face during the breakthrough will bring me great benefits? Anyway, just follow what Senior Brother said...

With this decision made, Lu Xingqiu remembered something else.

"Based on the timeline, the fiend beast suppressed in the Flowing Cloud Sect should be breaking out soon... In my previous life, with Master overseeing, it was thrilling but safe. This time, there shouldn't be any major upheavals, but..."

Lu Xingqiu looked at the waterfall cascading down before him, frowning slightly, "Since my rebirth, many things have changed, like the obvious changes in Senior Sister and Junior Sisters... Given that, will the fiend beast's emergence also bring changes?"

Thinking of this, Lu Xingqiu's first thought was to consult Senior Brother.

But soon, he dismissed the idea, "No, if I consult Senior Brother, it would expose my identity as a reborn person, but I still need to prevent any trouble from the fiend beast..."

After a brief consideration, Lu Xingqiu decided to seek advice in a more subtle way.

Let's start with Master.

"Speaking of which, it was from the emergence of the fiend beast in my previous life that I embarked on the path of a demon cultivator..." Suddenly recalling those distant memories, a bitter smile appeared on Lu Xingqiu's still youthful face, "At that time, Senior Brother must have seen it and subtly warned me, but I didn't take it to heart... How ridiculous I was back then."

Cupping a handful of water to wet his face, Lu Xingqiu took a deep breath, as if the scene of being an enemy of the world appeared before his eyes again, and the overwhelming scent of blood seemed to fill the air.

But soon, those images dissipated, turning into the figure of a young man.

"Third Brother, there are too many of them, I can't hold them off for long. This time, you must listen to me, run, run as far as you can... Don't worry about me, they won't harm me, and the bond between us as fellow disciples has long been severed. I won't forgive you, so we are already strangers... This is the last time I will help you."

Recalling those words that seemed to still echo in his ears, Lu Xingqiu couldn't tell if the marks on his face were water or tears.